Questor Insurance News

Vietnam records tourism surge to start 2017

International arrivals in Vietnam surged by 29% in the first three months of 2017, driven in part a rise in Chinese, Korean and Russian visitors.

The rise, when compared to the same period of 2016, represents a significant boost for the tourism industry and a country that is becoming increasingly popular with nationalities from all over the globe.

According to the data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, 3.21 million people visited between January and March.

Chinese arrivals accounted for nearly 30% of all visitors in the quarter, with South Korean and Japanese visitors also keen to discover the country’s beautiful landscapes and immerse themselves in its culture.

Thousands of US and Russian visitors also explored Vietnam in that time, while the country remains popular with British backpackers and those in search of a relaxing break.

Nearly 560,000 Europeans visited in the quarter, of which around 75,000 were Brits, while French and German tourists also flocked to Vietnam.

Of the total visitor numbers in the first three months of the year, 82% arrived by air – a common indicator for measuring international tourist traffic.

More than 10 million international visitors travelled to Vietnam in 2016, which marked a 26% year-on-year increase.

Should the current rates of growth continue throughout this year, then between 12.5 million and 13 million international arrivals could be expected.

Given that the nation wants to attract 20 million international tourists by 2020, the growth in visitor numbers is certainly a positive sign.

While Vietnam is famed for its conflict with America in the western world, it is also home to truly stunning landscapes, a great deal of wildlife and fascinating culture.

The War Remnants Museum provides an eerie look at the war that plagued the country while Halong Bay, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City are all popular tourist destinations.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is home to the oldest karst mountains in Asia – formed an incredible 400 million years ago – including cave systems and underground rivers, while forest trekking and mountain biking routes provide a source of further adventure.